Modern Paris Apartment with a French Country Twist - Home Tour

Ah, French home decor - especially Parisian apartments... Can you get enough? I can't! If you want to see a lovely little Paris apartment decked out in a beautiful, clean style to inspire your own decor, then this home tour is just what you need to see today. I just love it and you won't find it anywhere else on the web yet so for the moment, it's for your eyes only. Of course, feel free to change that by pinning the photos below to your boards on Pinterest. I certainly plan to!

There are so many inspiring features in this newly renovated apartment by Camille Hermand Architectures agency and the apartment is located on the rive droite of Paris, in the south of the fashionable ‘Marais’ district,

Camille Hermand Architectures had a few major design objectives: to optimize space and to improve flow in this very rectangular 78m2 (approx. 800 square feet) space.

The traditional tomette tile flooring inspired the architects to bring in a more contemporary edge to an overall country decor style through the addition of bold colors and modern patterns.

TIP: TOMETTE TILE - Traditional terra cotta tile, hexagonal in shape, eco-friendly and a symbol of Provence and traditional French country homes.

Atelier-style windows were installed to separate the entrance to the living room which was a great idea because before, the front door opened directly into the living room which felt very impersonal.

I love the style of this space, it's definitely country but with a major twist so it feels very current and even more, young and fresh. I like how clean and bright that this space feels. It's not minimalistic, which I also love because I am so bored seeing 3-4 things in a room - that's not decorating or design to me, that's 3-4 things in a room! Sorry, but it's how I feel.

A home is where you read books and show your art collection and jump on the sofa with your children and throw big cocktail parties where someone is always going to spill a gin tonic on your rug. This apartment feels like you can relax and enjoy being home. It also feels very welcoming and cozy with the soft, inviting seating that still has clean lines but also a sofa you can really sink into and relax upon. I am also very tired of seeing sofa after sofa at fairs that look beautiful but feel like rocks when you sit on them. I don't get it! I don't want to pay to be uncomfortable.

I really love the built-ins in this space for books and objects to display, but also in the hallway, I noticed a built-in wall unit which I imagine holds scarves, mittens, hats, boots, and coats. It's such a clever thing that these architects did, to add these glass doors and windows to separate the living from the entry area.

On the other side of the living room is the dining area and to the right of it, a few stairs take you up to a cozy sleep space.

This is the perfect nook for guests to sleep, or if you have a child, for them to sleep and play. It also is a great TV room for when you want to cozy up and watch a film since the main living room doesn't have a TV.

I really love the different tones of white, gray, blue, green and pink in this space that range from soft, pastels to bold, rich jewel tones. Punctuated with mustard yellow in the living room, and with a tomato red in the bedroom. 

Another door off of the living/dining room takes you to the gorgeous kitchen with beautiful custom wooden cabinetry. Pay attention to the skylight and how they framed the ventilation above the stove in glass cabinetry. I found it so interesting...

In this space, I almost wonder if they intentionally painted on the floor to make it less orange, keeping that single tile different? It seems so, doesn't it? The rest of the house has the very orange tile but it works because of the rugs. In this space, with all of the wood, the orange tile may have been too strong, so perhaps washing it out a bit was a good design solution? In any case, I love it.

Next, is the bedroom and bath. This seems to be located on the other side of the entryway, perhaps the front door is on the other wall? I love looking at home tours like this because it's fun to try to figure out where all of the doors lead. Also in this photo, pay attention to the gorgeous blue built-in cabinetry in the bedroom - it's gorgeous right? When I think of Paris, I always think of blue and green tones like this. I want to try to bring this vibe to my home in 2018 so I need to think about how I can do it...

By the way, what do you think about the glass window to the bathroom? I love this! It's such a growing trend in Europe in hotel design to have glass walls in the bathroom, and some people really hate it - but I don't mind if it's in an en-suite bathroom - but I think I would have the lower glass panels be frosted so natural light still flows into the windowless bathroom while you still maintain your privacy. I don't care how "married" you are, I like my private moments.

The bathroom is tiny but so well done! I like the shelf above the tub for storage and the storage beneath the sink. I also love the tile because it is in the same hexagon shape as the terra cotta flooring throughout the house.

And I guess you can say that I saved the best for last with this gorgeous bedroom! I love this space - it feels so fresh and all of the built-in cabinetry is just divine and such a clever use of space in a small city apartment. I would love to hire architects to do this in my own home someday if I ever decide to stay in one place...

Finally though, the light. We need to discuss this light! I instantly know who designed it, Constance Guisset for Petite Friture. When I was in Milan this past April, I had lunch with the founder Amélie Du Passage, and she was just amazing and such an inspiration to me. This light, Vertigo has become quite trendy here in Europe and comes in two sizes, this is the largest one. It makes such a statement while being light, airy and a bit humorous - I love it.

Did you enjoy this home tour today? I hope that you did. It was so fun to share it with you!

(Photography with permission: Camille Hermand Architectures)